Beginner Cordon Tomato Pruning Question

[LexLucre]

Hi,

Quite a basic question. It's my first year growing tomatoes, and I have a few gardeners delight that are planted out. I thought I was being diligent, removing all the sideshoots, and yet I go to plant today after a few days avoiding the rain and find what appear to almost be two main stems on a number of my plants.

Are these just classic sideshoots that got the better of me, or are they something else? Should I remove them with a knife even at this size?

[

[Penellype]

Those are sideshoots - the ones just below a flower truss always seem to grow the most strongly. Its up to you whether or not you remove them but you will probably get smaller fruit if you don't.

Someone else may well come along and say something different!

[Bigmallly]

I agree with Pene, remove the side shoot to improve fruit size. Some Tomatoes do split into 2 stems but that doesn't look to be the case here. It may pay to put the side shoot in a glass of water & let it root,then pot it on as it is a good size.

.......................

[Martin H]

Yes, these are just sideshoots that have grown on. As Pene says, the ones underneath a flower truss grow quickly and vigorously.

I would take them off before they get any bigger:




Lovely healthy looking plants, by the way!

[Bigmallly]

Haha, nice one Martin............we'll confuse 'em between us.............

[Martin H]

It would be so much easier to go round there and point!

[LexLucre]

Great, thanks all for the help. I am amazed at how rapidly they've grown.